Born in St Leonards, New South Wales and educated at
Benges School, Hertford and Foster's Academy, Stubbington before entering
Dartmouth, he had been interested in flying from its very earliest days.
Therefore when the opportunity arose he applied for and was accepted as one of the first four officers to
undergo pilot training by the Admiralty, gainingRAeC CertificateNo 72
on 25 April
1911. Shortly after this in November 1911, he became the first man to fly an
aircraft from land onto water in England, a feat he carried out in a Short
biplane in Sheerness Harbour. One of his first tasks at the CFS was to teach Captain Paine, the school's
first Commandant, to fly in order that he could take up his new post.He also taught Major Hugh Trenchard to be a military pilot after he had
gained his RAeC Certificate.He
commanded 'E' Flight of three (should have been four, but one did not fly)
aircraft during the Royal Flypast at Spithead on 18 July 1914. On 28 July
1914, he successfully launched the first torpedo from an aircraft, whilst flying
Short Type 81, '121'.

In
1916, he returned to normal naval duties (Lt Cdr) aboard the battle-cruiser Tiger.As a result he was directly involved in the Battle of Jutland, during
which he acted as air adviser to the Flag Officer, Battle Cruisers.
His appointment to the staff of C in C, Mediterranean put him in overall control
of all RNAS units in the area, including Malta, Italy, The Aegean, Egypt and
later Gibraltar.

During his tour as the Commandant of the RAF College, the exquisite
College Hall Officer's Mess was completed.

On 28 January 1936 he was a mourner at the
funeral of HM King George V. Appointed AOC, Middle East, he was involved in the early campaigns
against the Italians. Amongst these was the Italian and German assault on
Greece.Here he took the unilateral
decision to send RAF units from the Middle East in order to support the Greeks,
a decision, which received the full backing and support of Winston Churchill.However, when the expected reinforcements from Britain, to replace those
units sent to Greece, did not arrive he found his command becoming seriously
under equipped.He soon started
making complaints about this lack of reinforcements, which failed to improve
dramatically, even after the opening of the 'Takoradi Route'.This soon made him an 'enemy' of Churchill with a consequent loss of
confidence.Recalled to London in
May 1941 to discuss the supply problem, he was actually relieved of his command
and his deputy, Arthur Tedder was appointed in his place.After finally retiring he stood for Parliament as Conservative candidate
for Grantham, but was defeated by the Independent candidate. He then joined a voluntary organisation, 'Yachtsmen's
Emergency Service' and was involved in providing transport for the invasion
fleet building up off the South coast in 1944.
In 1943, he was recalled to service to undertake a planning review for post-war
activities. From 1954 to 1957 he was Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission and he continued to sail as a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron.